Golf in Flanders DID YOU KNOW… The Belgian Open…
FA C T S A N D F I G U R E S A B O U T G O L F I N F L A N D E R S
THE BELGIAN OPEN PA S T A N D F U T U R E
Golf in Flanders DID YOU KNOW…
THE FIRST BELGIAN OPEN WAS PLAYED BACK IN 1910 WITH FRENCHMAN ARNAUD MASSY BEATING SCOTSMAN ANDY HERD AND ENGLISHMAN HARRY VARDON BY 5 SHOTS AT THE ROYAL GOLF CLUB OF BELGIUM.
ROYAL GOLF CLUB OF BELGIUM TRADITIONALLY THE BELGIAN OPEN WAS PLAYED OVER THE ‘ROYAL’ COURSES, NONE MORE SCENIC THAN THE RGCB WHICH IS BUILT ON LAND OWNED BY THE BELGIAN CROWN.
ROYAL ZOUTE GC BELGIUM’S ANSWER TO CANNES, KNOKKE IS ONE OF EUROPE’S MOST ICONIC SEASIDE RESORTS WITH A GOLF CLUB TO MATCH.
ROYAL ANTWERP GC THE 2ND OLDEST GOLF CLUB ON THE CONTINENT, ROYAL ANTWERP, IS ONE OF BELGIUM’S TOP GOLF CLUBS.


BKO THE BELGIAN KNOCK OUT GOLFINFLANDERS.COM
Did you know that the BKO, Belgian Knock Out, is a new European Tour event organised by Pieters Productions to provide Belgian golfers another chance to watch top European golf close by. From May 17th, the top European tour players will take on the Rinkven Golf & Country Club near Antwerp. The tournament offers 144 players two rounds of stroke play after which 64 continue and work their way through a quick 9 hole league system. Did you know that Pieters Productions is owned by Thomas Pieters and family and given his early success in golf, Thomas’s wish was to give something back to his supporters who have been deprived of top golf in Belgium since the turn of the millennium. It was back in 2000 when Lee Westwood beat Eduardo Romero by 4 strokes at Royal Zoute GC. The Knokke layout had already seen its fair share of champions pass through with Faldo, Clarke, Karlsson and Miguel Angel Jimenez claim victory on the links turf.
Did you know that prior to Colsaerts and Pieters, arguably Belgium’s most successful golfer was Flory Van Donck. With over 50 wins worldwide and admired by Seve for his shotmaking skills, Van Donck won many of the national opens including his own 5 times. In 1953, he won a total of seven tournaments on the then European circuit, a record that still stands today. He represented Belgium in the Canada Cup, later the World Cup, on 19 occasions and his last appearance was in 1979 as a 67 year old and thus became the oldest player to compete in the world cup. Did you know that Rinkven G&CC was found during the Belgian golf boom in the 80’s when many of the clubs were built. Now having access to a full 36 holes, the club is one of the more upmarket golf establishments in Belgium. The club has undergone extensive renovations over the past couple of years. Upgrades to the course, the building of a new club house and improving playing conditions have been part of a master plan. The aforementioned is one of the reasons, Pieters Productions confirmed Rinkven as their first host venue. Did you know that Rinkven is just outside of Antwerp, one of the world’s most beautiful and lively cities. A real host city to the professionals and visitors to the BKO.


Golf in Flanders Did you know …
E U R O P E A N G O L F & T R AV E L M E D I A A S S O C I AT I O N W W W. E G T M A . C O M - I N F O @ E G T M A . C O M